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The 75 Best Gifts for Toddlers of 2024

For cool, creative, and curious little ones

Collage of a Little Tikes First Slide on a blue background

The Spruce / Amelia Manley

When shopping for a toddler, the child's learning abilities and safety should be top of mind.

Also, pay attention to the interests your little one has and what activities they enjoy, whether it's coloring, building with blocks, playing outside, or dancing around the living room. These interests will guide you when searching for the perfect gift. Align the gift with their favorite things, while also being mindful of the toddler's parents when considering price, noise level, and clean-up process.

We researched the best options on the market, considering each pick's educational factors, entertainment value, and age suitability.

Gund My Little Food Truck 5-Piece Plush Playset

Gund My Little Food Truck 5-Piece Plush Playset

Gund

Perfect for infants and toddlers alike, these sensory toys let little ones explore different textures, shapes, and sounds, while older toddlers can engage in pretend play and operate their very own food truck. The set comes with a plush food truck, bear chef, burger, taco, and boba tea. Some toys squeak, rattle, or crinkle for a fun sensory experience for all ages.

Recommended Age: All ages

Learning Resources Spike The Fine Motor Hedgehog

Learning Resources Spike the Fine Motor Hedgehog

Amazon

Spike the Hedgehog has a lot going for him. Toddlers maneuver the 12 quills in and out of holes, and can also sort, count, and recognize colors with pegs. But the thing parents may appreciate the most is that Spike’s quills pack up neatly into his shell when it's cleaning time.

Recommended Age: 18 months and up

WowWee Baby Shark Official - Singing Bath Time Bubble Maker

WowWee Baby Shark Official Singing Bath Time Bubble Maker

Amazon

If your kids still can't stop singing "Baby Shark," why not give them one of their own? This one will make bath time their favorite activity. Besides its musical abilities, the shark fills with your soap, so your baby can have a bubble party and sing along to the tunes. The bath toy can also be easily attached to your tub walls with suction.

Recommended Age: 2 years and up

Petite Collage Beatrice The Bear in The Studio Play Set

Petit Collage Beatrice The Bear in The Studio Play Set

Petit Collage

Join Beatrice the Bear in her art studio where little ones can draw, paint, and create alongside their new furry friend. The adorable bear plush comes with 3D pop-out furniture that's easy to assemble and store. It also comes with a craft sheet so kids and adults can make mini artwork together.

Recommended Age: 3 years and up

Tonka Chuck

Tonka Chuck

Tonka

The oversized toy truck has four sensors that make noises and trigger silly phrases when toddlers interact with it. Little ones can discover over 20 goofy phrases or touch Chuck's hat to watch him roll forward up to 5 feet all on his own.

Recommended Age: 2 years and up

Alex Toys Button Art Activity Set

Alex Discover Button Art Activity Set Kids Art and Craft Activity, 56pieces

Amazon

Button Art is specifically designed as a toddler toy. Toddlers can work on hand-eye coordination and develop fine motor skills while they complete any of the ten different brightly-colored pictures by snapping the buttons in the correct spaces. During testing, we found that the smooth plastic buttons—which measure just over an inch —were ideally sized to fit our toddler’s tiny hands. They snap easily into place with a satisfying click and come out just as easily.

Recommended Age: 18 months and up

ALEX Toys Little Hands Button Art

Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Mix and Learn DJ Table

Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Baby and Toddler Toy Mix and Learn DJ Table Musical Activity Center

Amazon

Little DJs in training can practice their skills with this educational DJ table from Fisher-Price. The table has 12 engaging activities for toddlers including a piano with three play modes, light-up number buttons, a spinning alphabet wheel, and more. Kids can interact with over 100 songs and phrases in English and Spanish and even record a message and play it back as a remixed song.

Recommended Age: 18 months and up

When shopping for a toddler, you can never go wrong with a stuffed animal like this adorable Jellycat bunny. The plush comes in four sizes—7, 12, 15, or 21 inches—but we found the 12-inch option perfect for toddlers. This option even fits 16-inch doll clothes perfectly, allowing for play similar to a baby doll with feeding accessories and strollers, fostering imaginative and nurturing play in little ones.

Recommended Age: All ages

My Art Book of Happiness

Phaidon Press My Art Book of Happiness

Phaidon Press

Named one of Oprah's Favorite Things 2023, Phaidon art books pair famous artworks with adorable sayings and phrases fit for little ones. This board book is a great introduction to art for toddlers and doubles as a great bonding activity for adults and kids to enjoy together.

Recommended Age: All ages

LeapFrog Fridge Phonics Magnetic Letter Set

LeapFrog Fridge Phonics Magnetic Letter Set, Yellow

Amazon

If the toddler in your life is beginning to learn the alphabet, get them this phonics letter set to help make it an enjoyable process. They can either place the letters on your fridge to make new words or place them into the machine to hear how they sound.

Recommended Age: 2 years and up

Horizon Group Bluey Aqua Art Pad, Color-with-Water Book

Bluey Aqua Art, Includes 4 Reusable Pages of Water Art & Water Pen, Color with Water Book, Water Reveal Activity Book, Paint with Water Books, Water...

Amazon

Coloring is a simple creative activity for all kids. However, it can often get messy, with the colors leaking all over surfaces or on little hands. This Bluey Aqua Art Pad has numerous sheets that can be filled out with its magic pen. As kids fill in the sheets, colors will magically appear so they can practice coloring within the lines before the real deal. The pad will dry over time and become blank again, so they can use it as many times as they want.

Recommended Age: 3 years and up

Melissa & Doug Barber Shop Pretend Play Set

Melissa & Doug Barber Shop Pretend Play Set

Melissa & Doug

Imagine you run your own barbershop with this adorable pretend-play set from Melissa & Doug. Complete with a fake beard sized to fit toddlers and adults alike, the play set includes pretend trimmers, shaving cream, scissors, a brush, a comb, and more. There's even a double-sided activity card to guide toddlers as they tend to their happy customers.

Recommended Age: 3 years and up

The Coloring Table Oceantime Fabric Coloring Tablecloth

The Coloring Table Oceantime Fabric Coloring Tablecloth

The Coloring Table

A present for toddlers and parents alike, The Coloring Table makes fabric tablecloths that double as coloring sheets for the whole family to relieve stress and express their creativity together. We love this ocean print, but there are plenty of other designs depending on what your toddler likes, and the tablecloth comes in three sizes to accommodate your space.

Recommended Age: All ages

Start your child’s love of puzzles early with Petit Collage floor puzzles, available in various cool designs like this ocean floor discovery scene. Other designs include a construction site, a wild rainforest, and a dinosaur kingdom. The 24 pieces are made from recycled materials, and printed with vegetable inks.

Recommended Age: 3 years and up

More than just a baby doll, Coney from Cry Babies can recognize the child through an interactive bracelet. When toddlers wear the bracelet, Coney blushes and coos. She makes over 20 noises and even cries real tears. At night, lay Coney down and her eyes will close for sleep. Her packaging even converts to a crib to keep her comfortable and cozy. Coney's friend Molly is also available in a darker skin color.

Recommended Age: 18 months and up

GUND P.Lushes Designer Fashion Pets

GUND P.Lushes Designer Fashion Pets Bianca Blings Premium Puppy Dog Stuffed Animal, White and Blue, 6”

Amazon

Add a fashionable pet to your recipient's stuffed animal collection with this adorable furry friend. Each one of these plushies features detailed embroidered accents like sparkles, bows, collars, and more. Each one is unique—it comes with its own name and design, and toddlers can collect them all.

Recommended Age: 3 years and up

Fisher-Price Barbie Little DreamHouse

Fisher-Price Barbie Little DreamHouse

Amazon

The Little People Little Dreamhouse is the perfect size for toddler hands to move around mini-figures and furniture between the three floors with the working lift, activate over 45 songs and phrases, and discover all the secrets the play set has in store. We love the multiple opportunities for play and how the large play set allows parents and kids to play together. Toddlers can also integrate other small toys they already own while playing.

Recommended Age: 18 months and up

Add some thrill to a toddler's life with this introductory slide. You can bring the excitement of the playground to your living room or backyard for outdoor play. Kids can conquer their fears and slide into a mountain of pillows or piles of leaves. The best part is they can enjoy it as they grow.

Recommended Age: 18 months and up 

Melissa & Doug Dust, Sweep & Mop Set

Melissa & Doug Let's Play House! Dust, Sweep & Mop Set

Amazon

Don't stress and worry about having a whole to-do list of chores around the house when you're also taking care of your toddler with this dust, sweep, and mop set. It may often be difficult to get stuff done when a toddler is following you around and wanting to do it themselves, but with the set, they can copy what you're doing. This way, both you and your toddler can feel happy and accomplished afterward.

Recommended Age: 1 year and up

LeapFrog Number Lovin' Oven

LeapFrog Number Lovin' Oven

Amazon

The Number Lovin’ Oven by LeapFrog has a whole lot of learning baked in. Over thirty different songs and phrases, plus sixteen different ingredients, let kids explore numbers, temperature, time, and basic math through interactive play. The Number Lovin’ Oven includes an easy-to-follow recipe card for things like fried eggs, pizza, and cupcakes. Little chefs can slice the loaf of bread or pizza for sharing, hear the skillet sizzle when placed on top of the oven, or bake up a batch of cupcakes.

Recommended Age: 2 and up

Carter Joey Magic Beanie & Magic Mittens

Carter Joey Magic Beanie & Magic Mittens

Carter Joy

Perfect for winter, this beanie and mittens set from Carter and Joey has a secret cold-weather surprise. The logo patch changes color to a dark blue in cold temperatures. The soft fabric will keep little ones warm during chilly days, which parents will love, while toddlers will love the color-changing magic.

Recommended Age: 2 years and up

Creative QT Stuff 'n Sit Large Bean Bag Storage Cover

Creative QT Large Bean Bag Storage Cover

Amazon

This adorable bean bag chair grows as you fill it with r stuffed animals, soft toys, blankets, pillows, and more. You can store all of your little one's fuzzy friends inside of the bean bag. It’s functional and comes in 12 different colors.

Recommended Age: Not Listed

BigShu Magnetic Tiles Building Blocks

Magnetic Tiles Building Blocks STEM Magnet Blocks Toys for 3+ Year Old Boys and Girls,Educational Toy Gifts for Toddlers Kids Develop Children's Ability...

Amazon

These magnetic tiles can be used to build anything and everything the toddler wants—they'll encourage them to be as creative as they want since the possibilities are endless. The set comes in various colors and shapes, so it'll be a game of constant experimenting.

Recommended Age: 3 years and up

Encourage social skills and foster STEM concepts in toddlers with this treehouse. The 3-in-1 set comes with three stunning builds, including a 3-story treetop play area with a slide, a cozy tree house, and a garden scene. It also comes with a grandma, four kids, a bird, a cat, and a squirrel, so little ones can practice sharing, playing together, and group play.

Recommended Age: 3 years and up

Melissa & Doug PAW Patrol Adventure Pack

Melissa--doug-paw-patrol-adventure-pack

Target

This PAW Patrol adventure pack includes a whistle, adjustable binoculars, a 3-in-1 tool with a magnifier, a compass, an activity guide, a badge, and more to bring the excitement of finishing missions on the cards. It will inspire your toddler to get creative and active since they'll move around to figure out clues.

Recommended Age: 3 years and up

Melissa & Doug Slice and Bake Cookie Set

Melissa & Doug Slice and Bake Wooden Cookie Play Food Set - Pretend Cookies And Baking Sheet, Wooden Play Food Set, Toy Baking Set For Kids Ages 3+

Amazon

This colorful, sturdy play baking set is nice enough to rival the tools you have in your own kitchen. It comes with 12 sliceable cookies stored in a tube, 12 toppings, a knife, a spatula, a cookie sheet, and a kitchen mitt. Kids can make pretend treats for each other and practice early math concepts and fine motor skills.

Recommended Age: 3 years and up

Hide N Side Play Tent and Tunnels

Hide-n-side-ball-pit-play-tent-and-tunnels

Amazon

Be prepared for your child to never want playtime to end. This set consists of a ball pit, a crawl tunnel, and a few tents: one square and one triangle. You have to buy the balls separately, and when all laid out, it takes up quite a bit of room—just over 13 feet when lined up from end to end. The material is durable and easy to clean, and the set comes with a convenient carrying case.

Recommended Age: 1 year and up

WOW! STUFF Peppa Pig's Clever Car Toy

Peppa Pig's Clever Car Toy

Amazon

For the Peppa Pig or car-obsessed toddler in your life, combine their interests with this play set as they join Peppa and her family on a road trip. The interactive car plays music, makes realistic sounds, and recites popular phrases from the show. Young ones can collect other Peppa Pig characters to chauffeur around in their cherry red convertible.

Recommended Age: 2 years and up

Mega Bloks 80-Piece Big Building Bag

Mega Bloks 80-Piece Big Building Bag

Amazon

Mega Bloks are the perfect gift for toddlers. The Mega Bloks Big Building Bag comes with 80 durable, high-grade plastic pieces that are ergonomically designed for a toddler's hands to easily manipulate. They snap together for hours of building and rebuilding fun. During at-home testing, toddlers were easily able to grasp and manipulate the blocks due to their larger size, but we did notice that they don’t encourage fine motor skill development in the way that slightly smaller blocks would.

Recommended Age: 1 year and up

Mega Bloks 80-Piece Big Building Bag

 The Spruce

P is for Potty—and for the perfect present. The toddler years are the time when every parent is challenged with potty training. P is for Potty is a best-seller for kids who are learning to use the toilet and is essential to helping moms and dads ease little ones into this stage. It has over 30 lift-and-peek flaps on 12 pages to keep tots curious and excited about this next step.

Recommended Age: 1 year and up

Melissa & Doug Chomp and Clack Wooden Push Toy

Melissa & Doug Chomp and Clack Alligator Push Toy and Activity Walker

Amazon

For those who aren't quite walking yet, this toy will help them learn to keep their balance. They'll love to zoom around the house (and probably into your walls and furniture, so watch out). Besides helping them get on their own two feet, toddlers will also be entertained by the chomping alligators, spinning butterflies, and ladybug wooden beads that clatter as they move this toy.

Recommended Age: 1 year and up

Little Tikes Activity Garden Baby Playset

Little Tikes Activity Garden Playhouse for Babies, Infants and Toddlers - Easy Set Up Indoor Toys with Playtime Activities, Sounds, Games for Boys Girls...

Amazon

This play center might take up some valuable real estate in your home, but it's packed with activities guaranteed to delight your little one at a mix of ages and stages. It can be switched from a closed structure for babies to an open, two-sided design for toddlers. There's an archway to encourage crawling, a ball drop, a shape sorter, a toy piano, and a telescope.

Recommended Age: 6 months and up

Fat Brain Toys Shape Factory

Fat Brain Toys Shape Factory

Walmart

Fat Brain consistently creates exciting toys for kids. This toy requires kids to fit all ten shapes into the appropriate slots. Not only do they learn about shapes, but this is also a great way for kids to enhance motor skills. This is an ideal toy for kids two years old and up, and the chunky pieces are designed for their little hands.

Recommended Age: 2 years and up

Manhattan Toy Tree Top Adventure Activity Center

Manhattan Toy Tree Top Adventure Activity Center

Amazon

Though this toy is all about encouraging motor skills, kids will love the spinning dials, beads, gliders, and more. The wooden activity center has pretty much everything to captivate a child's attention. The toy measures just over 22 inches tall and has a sturdy base.

Recommended Age: 1 year and up

Learning Resources Smart Snacks Number Pops

Learning Resources Smart Snacks Number Pops - 20 Pieces, Ages 2+,Toddler Number Learning Toys, Preschool Math Games, Fine Motor Toys, Numbers for Kids

Amazon

Learning about numbers and colors can be fun, especially when it comes in the form of ice cream. Kids have to match the popsicles with their corresponding shells, which have different colors and numbers of dots.

Recommended Age: 18 months and up

Your young animal lover and possible future veterinarian will love this 24-piece vet set. It includes everything they'll need to take care of their plush cat or dog, including a stethoscope, bandage, thermometer, and even an exam checklist. Everything can be stored away in a handy tote bag that has a cute paw print on the outside.

Recommended Age: 3 years and up

The Six Bells Farm Crayon Set

The Six Bells Farm Crayon Set

The Six Bells

We've never seen a cuter set of crayons. Spark your little one's creativity with these vegetable-shaped crayons that come with a matching farm-themed coloring book. The adorable crayons are oversized, so they're perfect for little hands. The box is also convenient for storage when coloring time is over.

Recommended Age: 3 years and up

Radio Flyer All-TerrainWagon with Canopy

Radio Flyer Off-Road EZ Fold All-Terrain Wagon with Canopy

Amazon

Schlepping small people and their stuff just got a lot simpler with this foldable red wagon. It can be used in three ways: to haul two children around (there are even seatbelts and back cushions), to carry all the gear you might need for the park or beach, and, when you drop the zipper, as extra, bench-style seating. The kid-friendly wagon also has two cup holders, and the foldable canopy protects kids from the sun.

Recommended Age: 18 months and up

Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Food Truck

Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Servin' Up Fun Food Truck

Amazon

When looking for a toy for a toddler, pretend play toys are a great place to start. Not only is it adorable watching your kid act out scenes, but it's also possible for parents to get in on the action. This food truck can have kids slinging out tacos, pizza, burgers, and more. When your order is ready, don't forget to pay up with the talking cash register. This food truck will be an excellent activity for the whole family.

Recommended Age: 18 months and up

There’s a reason why the Little Tikes Shopping Cart has been a favorite toddler toy for years. This is one toy that boys and girls will use for hours, engaging in imaginative role play as they fill the cart just like their parents do at the store. The Little Tikes Cart is two feet tall and is made from durable, BPA- latex-, PVC-, and phthalate-free plastic. The easy-push wheels are designed to protect indoor surfaces, yet they’re durable enough for outdoor use.

Recommended Age: 2 years and up

Yeaye Crawling Crab Baby Toy

Yeaye-crawling-crab-baby-toy

Amazon

The dancing crab plays cheerful music and walks sideways. When a toddler goes near the crab, the crab will crawl away, creating an exciting chasing game. The crab also has bright colors and sparkling lights.

Recommended Age: All ages

RAEQKS Counting Dinosaur Toys

RAEQKS Counting Dinosaur Toys Matching Games with Sorting Bowls Preschool Learning Activities for Math Color Sorting Educational Sensory Montessori STEM Toy...

Amazon

With the RAEQKS Counting Dinosaur Toy, toddlers can sort the colored dinosaurs into the same colored bowls using matching jumbo tweezers. As they're organizing, they can learn the colors and how to count. There are two other types of sets including a Zoo and Animal-themed one, both with the same matching colors. 

Recommended Age: 3 years and up

VTech Mix and Match-a-Saurus

VTech Mix and Match-a-Saurus

Walmart

With this VTech toy, toddlers are exposed to role play with a mix of emotions, music, and characters to help them work on their feelings. Children ages 2 to 5 will work on their fine motor skills as they load up the dinosaur with different tiles. When the dinosaur comes to life, your kid will learn how to express different emotions, all while having fun.

Recommended Age: 2 years and up

Fisher-Price Bounce and Spin Interactive Puppy

Fisher-price-bounce-and-spin-interactive-puppy-with-lights-and-sounds

Amazon

Aimed at kids ages one and up (with a maximum weight of 55 pounds), this adorable canine provides a stable yet bouncy play spot. The handlebars feature a snazzy light-up roller that little ones will love to spin, and parents can choose between having the ride-on toy play music only, or sing the alphabet, numbers, and other simple words.

Recommended Age: 1 year and up

Melissa & Doug Grocery Cart Push Toy and Puzzles

Melissa & Doug Wooden Shape Sorting Grocery Cart Push Toy and Puzzles

Amazon

This wooden cart set has numerous puzzles for your child to solve, get exposed to different shapes and colors, and sort various categories. The little fruit pattern is the perfect design to add a touch of color to your playroom.

Recommended Age: 1 year and up

Colorpop Books The ColorPop Book Bundle

Colorpop Books The ColorPop Book Bundle

Colorpop Books

Colorpop Books is your one-stop destination for diverse children's books that tell stories and display faces and families that little ones can relate to. Stock the toddler in your life's bookshelf with the Colorpop book bundle. The bundle comes with three best-selling books that tell diverse stories with diverse characters: Eyes That Kiss in the Corners, Proudest Blue, and Hair Love

Recommended Age: All ages

Toyk Aqua Magic Mat

Toyk Aqua Magic Mat

Amazon

This magic mat is activated with just water. It comes with numerous brushing tools that can be filled with water and stencils, so toddlers can draw freely with their friends on play dates. They can paint anything they want without the mess that comes with it since as the mat dries, the colors and designs all disappear.

Recommended Age: 3 years and up

Taimasi Kids Musical Instruments, 33Pcs

Musical Instruments

The musical set comes with 33 instruments for little ones to experiment with different sounds, rhythms, and beats. Since it comes in a tidy and light backpack, the instruments can be easily stored and carried whenever you're heading out. It'll keep them busy and happy on any car ride.

Recommended Age: 3 years and up

Buckle Toy Store Bizzy Square

Buckle Toys - Bizzy Square - Learning Activity Game - Develop Motor Skills and Problem Solving - Occupational Therapy Toddler Travel Toy

Amazon

It's often difficult to find a toy that's easy to carry and bring anywhere, but this buckle toy will be compact enough for toddlers to hold when leaving the house. It comes with multicolored buckles and numbered flaps with embroidered animals under each one, so kids can practice their motor skills while learning about the different animals.

Recommended Age: 1 year and up

Melissa & Doug Wooden Take-Along Sorting Barn Toy With Flip-Up Roof and Handle

 Melissa & Doug Wooden Take-Along Sorting Barn Toy with Flip-Up Roof and Handle

Amazon

If the toddler you're shopping for loves animals or you're trying to introduce them to animals, this sorting barn toy is a great starting point. It comes with ten wooden farm animal pieces, which they need to place onto their empty spots in the barn. It'll help them learn the different animals while challenging them to do some puzzle-solving.

Recommended Age: 2 years and up

Joyjoz Baby Musical Mats With 25 Music Sounds

Baby Musical Mats with 25 Music Sounds, Musical Toys Child Floor Piano Keyboard Mat Carpet Animal Blanket Touch Playmat Early Education Toys for Baby Girls...

Amazon

Toddlers can create their own melody with this musical mat that looks like a giant rainbow piano keyboard. The mat has 25 musical sounds, so they can mix and match with what sounds good to them. Whether it be running up and down the keyboard or jumping from key to key, they are the maestros of their own beat.

Recommended Age: 1 year and up

Osmo Little Genius Starter Kit

Osmo - Little Genius Starter Kit

Amazon

Use an iPad as a learning tool with this interactive Osmo starter kit. All you need to do is place the iPad on the stand, and the reflector will look at what shapes and materials are in front of your child to guide them through making letters and completing missions.

Recommended Age: 3 years and up

Educational Insights GeoSafari Jr. Talking Microscope

Educational Insights GeoSafari Jr. Talking Microscope

Amazon

If the toddler you're buying for loves nature or space, this microscope will immerse them in closer looks at their everyday surroundings. With numerous samples, toddlers can place them under the microscope to see what they look like and learn interesting facts about each one as they go through all of them. This will help them have a better understanding of what they may see on walks or on TV.

Recommended Age: 3 years and up

VTech Spin & Learn Color Flashlight

VTech Spin and Learn Color Flashlight Amazon Exclusive, Lime Green

Amazon

Whether it be colors, numbers, or animals, little ones won't be able to put their flashlight down because of all the sounds it makes. They can use the multiple control switches to change the different options and hear about a variety of topics as they play around with the flashlight.

Recommended Age: 1 year and up

Learning Resources Pretend Cash Register

Learning-resources-pretend-cash-register

Amazon

The Learning Resources Pretend Cash Register is a great way to get toddlers started on learning numbers and simple calculations through interactive money handling. The cash register makes a realistic register sound and has numerous realistic bills and coins, so your child can learn counting, subtraction, and addition.

Recommended Age: 3 years and up

Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes Toy

Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes Toy

Amazon

This Tunes toy has an easy grip holder, so toddlers can bring it wherever they go, whether in the car or at their friend's house. It plays ten different songs and looks like one of the original iPods, just with an on/off switch.

Recommended Age: 3 years and up

nutty toys Pop Tube Sensory Toys

Nutty Toys Jumbo XXL Pop Tubes Sensory Toys 5pk, Fine Motor Skills Learning Baby Toddler Toy Top ADHD & Autism Fidget 2023 for Kids Best Preschool Gifts Idea Unique Boy & Girl Easter Basket Stuffers

Amazon

Make your toddler's building dream a reality with these easy pop-tube sensory tubes that can be connected to make anything they want. From tunnels to abstract sculptures, they can pair different colors and stretch out the tubes to match their dreams.

Recommended Age: 3 years and up

Melissa & Doug Top and Bake Wooden Pizza Counter

34 Piece Top and Bake Pizza Counter Appliance Set

Wayfair

If your toddler always seems fascinated by you when you're in the kitchen cooking or cutting ingredients, this may be the perfect toy for them. The set comes with numerous pizza toppings and cards that they can follow to create multiple kinds of pizzas. It'll help them learn about the different vegetables and challenge them to complete the very specific pizza orders that are given.

Recommended Age: 3 years and up

Coconut Pops The Madison in Hot Chocolate

Coconut Pops The Madison in Hot Chocolate

Coconut Pops

While pajamas may be a more exciting gift for parents than toddlers, we think little ones will love cozying up in this comfy bamboo pajama set from Coconut Pop. Available in sizes 12-18 months up to 5T, the adorable set has cups of delicious hot chocolate all over it. Buy these ahead of Christmas morning for an adorable photo op in front of the tree.

Recommended Age: 12 months and up

Hapyland Old Wooden Reading Blocks Flash Cards

Hapyland-old-wooden-reading-blocks-flash-cards

Amazon

Little ones will love learning new words with the Hapyland Reading Blocks Flash Cards. The set has various wooden dowels that can be placed in the wooden holder, and the revolving blocks can be rotated until they create new words. It's up to the toddler to find the matching cards as they make new words.

Recommended Age: 2 years and up

CozyBomB Magnetic Fishing Pool Toys

CozyBomB Magnetic Fishing Pool Toys Game for Kids - Water Table Bathtub Kiddie Party Toy with Pole Rod Net Plastic Floating Fish Toddler Color Ocean Sea...

Amazon

Let toddlers practice their 'fishing' with this handy wooden toy that'll allow them to use rods to fish out letters. They can take turns fishing out letters with their friends, or you can help them spell words as you call our easy words to spell. It'll make spelling a lot more interactive.

Recommended Age: 3 years and up

Cenove Flower Garden Building Toy

CENOVE Toddler Toys Gifts for 3 4 5 6 7 Year Old Girls Boys,Flower Garden Building Toy STEM Educational Activity Preschool Toys for Kids Age 3-6(130 Pcs)

Amazon

The CENOVE flower garden building kit comes with various flower pieces in a handy toolbox, so it's always organized, and they can bring it anywhere they go. Toddlers can experiment with the different colors and create all kinds of flowers for their personal little garden.

Recommended Age: 3 years and up

Exorany Busy Board

Exorany Busy Board Montessori Toys for Toddlers Sensory Toys Gifts for 1 2 3 4 Year Old Girls & Boys Preschool Toddler Activities Educational Travel Toy...

Amazon

Help little ones learn the basic skills of buckling, unbuckling, zippering, and tying laces. This toy is the perfect way to get them started on a routine. The busy board is a portable kit with straps, so it can be easily carried throughout the house or outside. They'll become a professional in these skills in no time.

Recommended Age: 1 year and up

CoolToys Monkey Balance

CoolToys Monkey Balance Cool Math Game for Girls & Boys | Fun, Educational Children's Gift & Kids Toy STEM Learning Ages 3+ (64-Piece Set)

Amazon

If the toddler in your life isn't too excited about learning numbers, try this monkey balance, which will make the experience much more entertaining. As they place the numbers on one end, they have to count the same number of monkeys to place on the other end, so the scale balances.

Recommended Age: 3 years and up

Playkidz Durable Pound A Ball Toys

Durable Pound A Ball Toys for Toddler, Stacking, Learning, Active, Early Developmental Hammer Montessori Toys, Fun Gifts for Boy & Girl - STEM...

Amazon

Who doesn't love a simple but exciting game? With the Playkidz Durable Pound A Ball Toy, kids get to hammer in the colored balls and watch as they slide down the ramps. As a learning game, you can ask toddlers to identify the different colors and hammer the correct one.

Recommended Age: 1 year and up

BESTAMTOY 36 PCs Wooden Sorting Stacking Rocks

BESTAMTOY 36 PCs Wooden Sorting Stacking Rocks Balancing Stones,Educational Preschool Learning Montessori Toys, Building Blocks Game for Kids 1 2 3 4 5 6...

Amazon

If you're shopping for a toddler who loves collecting rocks, this sorting kit may be a better alternative than the ones outside. It comes with 36 pieces of multicolored wooden rocks that can be sorted by color or even stacked on top of each other. Kids will be able to learn how to coordinate colors and manage balance when stacking.

Recommended Age: 3 years and up

LIKEE Wooden Pattern Blocks Jigsaw Puzzle

LiKee Wooden Pattern Blocks Jigsaw Puzzle Montessori Toys Sorting and Stacking Games for Toddlers Kids Boys Girls Age 3+ Years Old (36 Shape Pieces& 60...

Amazon

The great part of the LIKEE Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle is that toddlers have so many cards to look at and build with the puzzle pieces. Each completed puzzle will be a cute critter that'll have your recipient giggling.

Recommended Age: 3 years and up

VTech Count and Chomp Dino

VTech Chomp and Count Dino, Green

Amazon

This educational dino toy comes with bright food pieces that produce different responses when you feed them to him. The toy plays more than 130 songs and phrases, whether it be a melody or phrase, your little one will be able to learn different shapes, colors, and foods.

Recommended Age: 1 year and up

YEEBAY Interactive Whack A Frog Game

YEEBAY Interactive Whack A Frog Game, Learning, Active, Early Developmental Toy, Fun Gift for Age 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 Years Old Kids, Boys, Girls,2 Hammers...

Amazon

The Whack A Frog Game has two different game modes and 38 speed-changing levels, so little ones can go at any pace that fits them. Whether it be playing with their friend or by themselves, they will learn how to be patient and hand-eye-coordination.

Recommended Age: 3 years and up

Build-A-Buddy Transformers Optimus Prime Building Toys

Build-A-Buddy Transformers Optimus Prime Building Toys

Build-A-Buddy

Build, take apart, and rebuild this transformer toy from Build-A-Buddy. With the included 20 pieces including a functional drill (with two AA batteries), toddlers can create Optimus Prime in the form of a truck or mighty robot. Once built, kids can spend hours playing with the new toys they build themselves.

Recommended Age: 18 months and up

LeapFrog Learning Friends 100 Words Book

LeapFrog Learning Friends 100 Words Book

Amazon

This interactive toy was created to help toddlers build early vocabulary skills in both English and Spanish. Kids can ‘read’ the book and have three play modes to practice: Words (, fun facts, and music. There are over 100 words to learn, and each page is devoted to a different subject matter like animals, food, opposites, and body parts.

Recommended Age: 18 months and up

VTech is a leader in kids' electronic learning toys. The KidiBeats Drum Set promotes interactive learning that keeps little hands and minds busy. With three drum pads and a cymbal, the KidiBeats Drum Set lets toddlers rock ‘n’ roll to their own beat or nine different melodies. The set has four modes that teach letters, counting skills, phonics, and memorization with follow-along tunes. During real-world testing, we found that this set works best for older toddlers who can follow the learning sequences, which offer the ability to teach both letters and numbers.

Recommended Age: 2 years and up

VTech KidiBeats Drum Set

Sesame Street Love to Hug Elmo

Sesame Street Love to Hug Elmo

Amazon

This Elmo doll loves to give hugs and will sing and dance when you give him a cuddle. He stands at just over a foot tall, and he speaks English and Spanish when requesting hugs. Just note that while his fur is soft and plush, the robotic elements aren't as cuddly when you squeeze him for an embrace.

Recommended Age: 18 months and up

Fat Brain Toys Bugzzle

Bugzzle

Fat Brain Toys

Puzzles can actually be quite fun, interactive, and colorful. The Bugzzle comes with numerous cards with ways to place the colored pieces to complete the puzzle, so toddlers can experiment and play with it differently each time.

Recommended Age: 3 years and up

Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Magic Color Mixing Bowl

Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Magic Color Mixing Bowl

Amazon

Toddlers can whip up their own treats with this laugh and learn magic color mixing bowl, while also learning about the different color combinations that occur when colors are mixed together. As they add different ingredients to the bowl, the mixing bowl will play songs and phrases to help toddlers learn the alphabet, numbers, and colors.

Recommended Age: 6 months and up

Other Great Gift Options

Every toddler is different and will be engaged with and entertained by different things. When buying for kids this young, it doesn't hurt to find options that will be welcomed by the parents as well. This could include an addition or expansion pack for a toy they already own to save space in the playroom or a trip to a local zoo or aquarium. Fun activities are always a great idea at this age when they outgrow toys so quickly. You could also look for toys that are easy to clean or have a natural conclusion, like a sticker book, to save space in the child's playroom.

Tips on Choosing a Gift For a Toddler

When you’re buying gifts for children, you want to make sure that the one you pick is age-appropriate. It might not seem like a big deal to buy a toy suited for 5-year-olds for a 3-year-old toddler, but products for older kids often have smaller pieces that can be dangerous in the hands of young children. Refer to the age recommendations on the packaging as a good judge of how safe and engaging a toy will be.

Toddlers are busy practicing new skills all the time. Because they’re learning constantly, you may want to consider purchasing a gift that has some educational value. That doesn’t mean it has to be boring, though—block sets like the BigShu Magnetic Tiles Building Blocks, dollhouses, and toy ovens can all teach young children cognitive reasoning while helping them practice their fine motor skills, says Dr. Natasha Burgert, a pediatrician in South Overland Park, Kansas.

Toddlers are notoriously rough with their toys, so it’s a good idea to look for toys that can withstand heavy use and the inevitable drops that’ll happen as toddlers develop better coordination and organization. Thick, durable plastics or solid wood toys are best equipped to withstand this type of usage. Melissa & Doug is a great brand to look at for high-quality wooden toys built to last, like Deluxe Chomp and Clack Alligator Push Toy.

Why Trust The Spruce?

This article was written by Julia Fields an associate editor for The Spruce covering all things surrounding toys, gifts, and the holidays since October 2021. Before that, she covered similar topics including toy reviews, product round-ups, expert-focused articles, and more. For this story, she researched hundreds of gift options for every kind of toddler, keeping in mind safety considerations and age restrictions.

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